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AUSTIN - Governor George W. Bush marked limited government, education, and tax cuts as his goals this session in his State of the State Address. A joint session of the Legislature convened in the House Chamber for the event on Wednesday, January 27th.

Bush's priorities were echoed in the state budget he submitted the next day, sending nearly $1.6 million to local school districts and proposing $2 billion in property tax cuts. Lt. Governor Rick Perry believes it can happen and is ready to work with the Legislature towards that goal.

"I'm going to be sending a clear message to the people of the State of Texas, to the senators that indeed I think it's possible to have a substantial tax relief for the people of the State of Texas," Perry stated.

Perry referred over 100 bills, many on the governor's priority list, to committees on Tuesday, January 26th. The bill to end social promotion, Senate Bill (SB) 1, is in the hands of the education committee chaired by Senator Teel Bivins of Amarillo. Later in the week Perry sent two bills to assist businesses to the Finance Committee, chaired by Senator Bill Ratliff of Mount Pleasant. The corporate franchise tax bill sponsored by Senator Troy Fraser of Horseshoe Bay and legislation providing a research and development franchise tax credit or refund, both part of the governor's agenda.

The Senate Democratic Caucus, chaired by Senator Gonzalo Barrientos of Austin, supports the governor's focus on education, with the exception of school vouchers. Democratic senators agree that issues like health care, teacher pay, and transportation are a higher priority than tax cuts.

"If you can't get to work in Houston, Texas because the freeway is inoperable, if you can't keep competent school teachers because you can't adequately pay them, a tax relief of $150 per household doesn't mean anything," said Houston Senator John Whitmire.

Other senators express concern that the governor's property tax cut plan will not benefit many citizens who are renters rather than owners. There is also speculation among senators that providing funding for education and other basic needs will not leave much for tax cuts of any form.

"There is a more serious side than having your dinner interrupted," said Barrientos. "While we recognize telemarketing is a legitimate business, fraudulent telemarketers are scamming Texas consumers out of millions of dollars."

Representatives of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) pledge their support. More than half the victims of telemarketing fraud are 50 years of age or older.

Senator Rodney Ellis joined Representative Senfronia Thompson, both of Houston, in filing hate crime legislation named for James Byrd Jr., the victim of a brutal murder in Jasper. Legislators say SB 275, the James Byrd, Jr. Act, broadens and clarifies hate crime laws already on the books, making those crimes easier to prosecute. House Bill 148, by Thompson, is the companion bill.

The Texas Senate honored Dr. Michael DeBakey of Houston on Monday, January 25th for fifty years of service as a surgeon and educator at Baylor College of Medicine. DeBakey assisted in setting up medical programs around the world.

This week the Senate had two visitors familiar with the chamber. Lt. Governor Perry introduced former Texas Governor Preston Smith on Tuesday, January 26th. He was in town for Lubbock Day festivities. Smith served as Governor from 1969 to 1973 and as Lt. Governor from 1963 to 1969. Later in the week former Senator Bill Sims of San Angelo made an appearance with his wife, Sue.

With committee assignments, hundreds of bills waiting for committee consideration, and knowledge of the governor's agenda, the Senate is in the beginning stages of legislating for the turn of the century in Texas.